Active Killer Copycat Syndrome

Copycat syndrome is very real.  This is not a theory, but a consistent trend.  Copycat syndrome is the tendency of a second mass casualty active killer attack to closely follow a high-profile event.  The second attack often happens within a two-week time frame.  This has occurred so often that it is advisable for the prepared citizen to be on heightened alert towards such violence in the month following a highly publicized active killer rampage.

Now, while many may presume that copycat syndrome is relatively new, corresponding with the age of social media which works to spur on the sickos who are out there already considering doing such a heinous act, the truth is, copycat syndrome goes way back.  In fact, it seems to go back as far as active killer attack itself:

On March 28, 1891, in Liberty, Mississippi a man opened fire with a double-barreled shotgun on people attending a schoolhouse exhibition.  Fourteen people were wounded, adults and children, but there were no fatalities.  This is one of the earliest active killer attempts in recorded American history.  On April 9, 1891, a man named James Foster entered St. Mary’s Parochial School in New York and began shooting.  He wounded several students that, once again, all survived. 

Coincidence?  Is it not ironic that two of the very first documented active killer events happened within two weeks of each other?  While there was no internet or evening news on television in 1891, the newspapers were certainly sophisticated by that point.  This author suspects that James Foster read headlines about the Mississippi event.

Further, we find copycat syndrome throughout the 20^th Century.  As an example, in March of 1996 Scotland suffered the horrifying Dunblane Massacre.  In April of 1996, Tasmania experienced the Port Arthur massacre in which 35 people died, and the perpetrator of that attack admitted to being fascinated with the Dunblane event.  This is nothing new.  Now, however, with social media and an online culture of sickos who fantasize about committing mass casualty violence, copycat syndrome is even more pronounced.

Following a highly publicized rampage killing stay switched on and aware for a repeat for at least several weeks.  Remember that the primary motivation for active killers is infamy and notoriety.  An individual who is already working themselves towards such violence is often pushed over the edge by the siren song of fame, and when they see another attacker garner the headlines that they desperately want, they are encouraged to act.